Puerto Rican political move debated
/In a political tempest not seen before in Puerto Rico, the losing
candidate in a contentious gubernatorial race that drew protests from
here to San Juan now may take a seat in the island's Senate without
ever being elected. Pedro Rossell could gain a seat after a senator
from the northwestern senatorial district abruptly resigned on Tuesday
- 48 hours after he was sworn in. Rossell is from the same
pro-statehood party and lives in the same district as the outgoing
senator. The move could put Rossell in line to ultimately replace
Kenneth McClintock as Senate president. It has drawn criticism from
some in Western Massachusetts even as Rossell supporters cheer it at
home. "It is immoral," said Gloria Bernabe-Ramos, associate director of
Latin American Studies at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
"People's votes should mean something. The people of Arecibo did not
vote for him." Rossell, a former two-term governor in the 1990s and
president of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, remains hugely
popular despite having headed the most corrupt administration in the
island's history. With nearly 2 million votes cast in the governor's
race, Rossell garnered 959,737. The winner, pro-commonwealth Gov.
Anbal Acevedo won by just under 4,000 votes, or 963,303,
according to the recount. [more]
